Dairy direct gippsland february 2015 (low res)

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Country News PUBLICATION

GIPPSLAND Issue 2, February 2015

Family focus at Yannathan » page 32

Managing heat stress » page 20 Forage planning in four points » page 30 Irrigation expo set for Gippsland » page 40

International Dairy Week

Editor Geoff Adams editor@countrynews.com.au Writers Danny Buttler Geoff Adams Sharon Wright Graphic designer Teresa Lagozzino Brendan Cain

Anthea Day from Araluen Park at Shady Creek with Ayrshire heifer Araluen Poker Pam.

Cover: Siblings Dean and Kellie Turner.

Story page 32

Advertising James MacGibbon james.macgibbon@ countrynews.com.au Published by Country News PO Box 204, Shepparton, Victoria 3632 (03) 5831 2312 www.countrynews.com.au

Country News Reaching Australia’s richest agricultural region

Roland Lodge Queen of Hearts, owned by Canobie Partnership at Drouin West in Victoria.

Supported by:

Dairy Direct Getting down to grassroots Grand Champion Ayrshire Encore Pardner Dijago, owned by Bawden and Burgmann partnership at Warragul; trophy presented by new Australian Ayrshires president Mike Hentschke.

John Gardiner took 10 head to International Dairy Week.

John’s Avonlea Holstein heifer topped the Dairy Week auction at $27 000.

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FEBRUARY 2015

When it all comes down to basics, you have to be able to grow good grass in your paddocks.

A friend of mine, Chris Hunter, had a reputation as a dedicated pasture enthusiast and I think he was on the right track for Victorian dairying.

Some of the best dairy operators seem to have the knack of combining a pasture-based system with fine-tuned supplementary feeding, in a combination that works efficiently and economically.

This edition of Dairy Direct contains some useful advice on getting the best from your pastures.

On page 28, fodder expert Frank Mickan (and hats off to him for a public service award, no knighthood yet), tells us about a new forage planning program which gets under way in February, and to get a taste for the issue, turn to page 30 for a brief summary of the four “R”s of forage.

We also take a look at alternatives to rye-grass on page 34.

— Geoff Adams Dairy Direct

contents

Numbers are looking positive

Doing Dairy with Katie MacAulay Dairy news

Statistics don’t always tell the full story, but one set of numbers gives a fairly accurate indication of how the Gippsland dairy industry is travelling at the moment.

Dairy Australia’s Victoria Milk Production figures show that Gippsland is enjoying a strong year compared to 2013–14, with a 7.1 per cent increase in litres up until the end of November.

With a steady milk price, full irrigation allocations and most farmers filling their hay sheds and silage pits during the past few months, we have our fingers crossed that 2014–15 can be a profitable year all round.

While it is good to sometimes sit back and take a moment to enjoy the productive seasons, we all know that prices will fluctuate and the weather won’t always be so kind.

The reality of the dairy industry is that we must make the most of the good times in preparation for poorer seasons that could be just around the corner.

GippsDairy is committed to helping Gippsland farmers to develop the knowledge and skills to maximise profits during good years and minimising problems when conditions are not so kind.

Three upcoming events are great examples of how GippsDairy is using dairy service levy funds to directly improve production and profitability on Gippsland dairy farms.

Churn Milk into Money is a two-

day seminar that helps participants turn their milk production into greater profits. The dairy industry offers great opportunities for wealth creation combined with an enviable lifestyle. Churn Milk into Money is all about showing farmers how they can make the most of their hard work to build a secure future and enjoy life at the same time.

Stepping in, Stepping Back is another workshop that helps farmers make critical decisions that affect the way they enter the industry or reduce their day-to-day involvement.

In Charge Financial Literacy is aimed at the kitchen table bookkeepers who keep the farm finances on track, despite little or no formal training.

It’s amazing what is involved in being a farmer (mechanic/vet/scientist) but looking after the farm financials can be one of the hardest tasks of all.

Details of where and when these workshops will be held can be found elsewhere in this edition.

I hope you enjoy the second edition of Dairy Direct as much the first.

The feedback we have received so far has been overwhelmingly positive with readers commenting favourably on the look and content of the magazine.

I hope the rest of summer continues to be kind to you all and we can move into autumn with a spring in our step.

— Matt Gleeson GippsDairy chairman

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Does your feeding system stack up?

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Transition feeding cows crucial

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Ensure your farm is an attractive investment 15 ‘Sweat equity’ explained

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Animal health

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Make more money out of cows

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Gippsland farmers reap benefits of forage planning program

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The four Rs of forage planning

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All in the family

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Can alternative species complement rye-grass pastures?

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Calendar of events

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Rural Rumenations with KATIE MACAULAY

Katie MacAulay lives in South Gippsland, and has been married to a dairy farmer long enough to appreciate the smell of good silage.

She loves chooks, enjoys stacking hay bales with the tractor and wonders why the lawn grows twice as quickly as the grass in the paddocks. Katie will be writing a regular column in Dairy Direct.

Boot camp dairy-style Fitness fad offers new opportunity to get farm work done.

I think I’ve discovered a new source of “Boot camp. Most suburbs run classes,” she said. labour for dairy farms.

“People lug tyres around for fun?”

Recently a friend and I were walking through a Melbourne car park when we “To get fit. The classes cost a fortune.” noticed a group of people behaving strangely. As my mouth dropped, my brain kicked Each person was attached to a drag chain into gear. Here was a fit, able workforce and pulling a tractor tyre along the ground. willing to pay good money for the sort of Then, to my surprise, once they’d reached jobs farmers do every day. It wasn’t long the edge of the car park, they turned around ago that hubby and I were standing on the and dragged the tyres back to their starting silage stack, trying to keep our balance as point. we hastily threw hundreds of tyres over the giant sheets of plastic threatening to blow Bewildered, I watched them release their away in the wind. The last time I carried chains before dropping to the ground and a drag chain was to attach it to a bogged crawling crab-like across the concrete while vehicle so we could pull it out of the mud lifting heavy weights from left to right over with the tractor. And the boot campers’ their bodies. crab-like crawl wasn’t dissimilar to hubby’s Feeling sweaty just watching them, I turned gait when he crawled underneath the dairy to my friend. platform to check which little white wheels “What do you think they are doing?” I asked. required replacing.

I had found a new business opportunity.

Farm Boot Camp.

I’m sure Katie’s Farm Boot Camp could provide as gruelling a workout as classes in a city car park. There are always plenty of things that need lugging at home — disinfectant drums, seed bags, chemical spray containers and firewood. And to work muscles involved in pushing and pulling, boot campers could help lift cows that had gone down, push the yard scraper around and pull calves.

Farm boot campers’ efforts would achieve more than just a great physique. Just think, the silage pit covered, firewood stacked, potholes in tracks filled, fences erected, thistles and ragwort hoed. Best of all, instead of having to do it ourselves or pay others, boot campers would pay us for the privilege!

dairy news Calling for better roads Dairy farmers at end of the road when it comes to bearing brunt of transport costs.

Upgrading key transport routes such as South Gippsland Hwy would save the dairy industry tens of thousands of dollars, according to two dairy bodies.

A submission to a Federal Government inquiry into agriculture by Dairy Australia and the Dairy Industry Council complained of the poor condition of the highway between Leongatha and Melbourne.

“Three major dairy processing plants are located along this route, generating hundreds of truck movements a week to and from Melbourne. The poor condition of the road is resulting in tens of thousands of dollars 4

FEBRUARY 2015

a year in additional costs through wear and tear to vehicles that are passed back to dairy companies and in turn to farmers,” the submission to the agricultural competitiveness green paper stated.

“These costs would be avoidable if the highway had been maintained to a standard reflecting its heavy use.”

of the poor condition of local roads.

“New milk transport vehicle designs now allow trucks to carry heavier loads without increasing wear and tear to road surfaces,” the submission to the green paper on agricultural competitiveness stated.

The poor road network is preventing milk processor Fonterra Australia from using its most efficient milk tankers to collect milk.

“To reduce transport costs and improve efficiency we endorse further government investment in road infrastructure to facilitate increased mass limits for these vehicles from 68.5 tonnes to 74.5 tonnes.

Fonterra has also told the Federal Government it must use smaller tankers where it would prefer to use B-doubles to collect milk because

“Improvements to road infrastructure are necessary to increase dairy industry competitiveness.”

dairy news New challenge calls Having achieved much for the dairy industry, ADF chief officer says it’s time to move on.

Australian Dairy Farmers chief executive officer Natalie Collard has announced she will step down from her role on April 10 after six years at the helm.

Ms Collard said she had thrived on the challenges and reaped the rewards of an exciting period for ADF and for dairy.

“Dairy farmers are proud and passionate people, and to represent them on a national level has been an honour,” Ms Collard said.

Ms Collard said while she valued every moment of her time at ADF, she was now seeking her next career challenge.

ADF president Noel Campbell paid homage to Ms Collard’s extraordinary leadership and tireless dedication to Australian dairy, which has elevated the industry’s profile in the community and in parliament.

“Natalie’s record speaks for itself. She is always striving for new ways to improve the profitability and sustainability of dairy, and her proactive, innovative and considered approach has improved the quality and effectiveness of our organisation,” Mr Campbell said.

“She has fought hard for farmers on key issues such as $1 per litre milk, and implemented imperative dairy policies, such as the Australian Dairy Vision and the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework.”

• In other news, Murray Dairy is now looking for a new chief executive officer, following the resignation of Leanne Mulcahy.

Ms Mulcahy, who has led the northern Victorian dairy development body for two years, is moving on to a job in local government.

App can tell if product is the real deal NSW dairy co-operative Norco will offer a smartphone application, which overseas consumers can use to authenticate the brand.

Norco has signed a three-year agreement with the company Authenticateit, which will allow consumers in China to scan a product’s barcode using an app.

The app also verifies if the product has not been recalled, via a live integration with the global product recall portals. The app also automatically detects the language settings on the mobile phone and presents all the information in Chinese to the consumer in China.

GS1 Australia’s chief executive officer Maria Palazzolo said Authenticateit had a business alliance partnership with GS1 Australia that had seen Authenticateit become a fully compliant industry system.

“GS1 Australia is proud to support this local business with an inventive, cost-effective option to address counterfeiting,” she said.

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dairy news Adam Jenkins

Mr Silage gets a gong Australia Day honours for servant of agriculture.

Fodder specialist Frank Mickan has been recognised in the Australia Day honours list with a public service medal.

UDV leadership change First generation Warrnambool farmer steps into ‘big shoes’.

Mr Jenkins said the council South Purrumbete dairy farmer Adam Jenkins has had concerns with Mr Jones’ become leader of the UDV leadership style during the after the sudden resignation past few months. of Tyran Jones.

Mr Jenkins, from a district Mr Jones resigned after an near Warrnambool, said the argument with the UDV’s council recognised the hard policy council. work of Mr Jones during his Mr Jones said he was pushed time as president. to resign after a debate over “I’ve got big shoes to fill,” Mr his views on animal welfare; Jenkins said. he said he had advocated the “I have a different leadership industry be more proactive style — I’m a very teamand more engaging with orientated and focused the community on animal person.” welfare issues to help people understand industry practices. Mr Jenkins is a first generation farmer of 10 years He said he would remain a who milks 250 cross-breds on member of the UDV so he his 243 ha South Purrumbete could continue to serve on property in south-western the board of Australian Dairy Victoria.

Farmers.

He and his wife Catherine have four young children: Lili, Poppy, Isabella and Harry.

Mr Jenkins grew up in Melbourne and worked in rural finance and other industry leadership positions before taking on dairy farming.

He said dairy farming was an intensive business but one he enjoyed.

“It’s certainly had its challenges in the past 10 years,” he said.

“That’s why I got involved with the UDV — I stuck up my hand. We are first generation farmers and every decision we make is important.”

Mr Mickan joined what was then the Department of Agriculture in 1971 as an agricultural officer and since then has worked in dozens of roles ranging from dairy research to managing the Ellinbank Centre farm to dairy extension officer.

He is known far and wide across Victoria and the nation as “Mr Silage”.

“I’m passionate about fodder conservation, sub-surface drainage, pasture and crop production, grazing management, animal nutrition, and soils and fertilisers,” Mr Mickan said.

“When you are passionate about anything, it’s not work, and farmers who sense this passion become more willing and eager to listen.

“Throughout the years, and throughout many name changes, my focus has always been on the job at hand; helping farmers, service providers, stakeholders and associated industries.

“What really pleases me is seeing so many young people currently training in the department to keep the dairy industry moving forward, and I’m hoping my knowledge and expertise will help young graduates like Patrick Bloye, who is in the early days of becoming the new Frank Mickan.”

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Does your feeding system stack up?

Every feeding system has its strengths and opportunities.

With a hectic workload, it is often difficult to find the time to sit back and have a closer look at the opportunities to improve your feeding system. Yet it is these very opportunities that can better reward you for all your hard work.

We are in an era when information is power.

Every dairy farmer has the power, but it is often buried somewhere.

Farm information on feeding can tell us how well we are using our resource.

Maybe you wish to grow milk production.

Should you increase the number of cows milked or should you feed the cows better?

How exposed is your business to a change in seasonal conditions, feed price and milk price?

How might you respond to a change, because every year is different?

Using farmers’ own data, it is possible to address these questions.

Do the opportunities lie with diet quality, feed supply/budgeting, feed purchasing, stocking rate or pasture management?

With this in mind, DEPI has been running Feeding Impact to help farmers unlock more of the potential of their feeding system to increase profit and decrease volatility.

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decreased to 1.27 tonnes per cow. This Farmers participating in the new DEPI Feeding Impact activity had different was achieved with the same cows and same approaches to feeding. pastures.

Annual pasture consumption ranged from 5.6 The difference this made to the bottom line to 10.1 tonnes/ha, concentrate feeding was was enormous. between 0.76 and 2.2 tonnes/cow, silage and By the end of the project the Partner Farms hay fed was between 0.7 and 3.2 tonnes/cow supporting the research were also able to and milk production was between 359 and identify better quality lower-cost forage 632 kg MS per cow. sources better suited to their production There is no right feeding system, with a wide systems. range of successful approaches to feeding Better feed conversion, better quality feed, being used by dairy farmers. However, this better availability and at a lower cost per range indicates that there is something that unit of energy meant the farmers had greater each farm can learn from the others, and this control over their farm feeding system and could be used to improve the bottom line of greater knowledge. their own business.

It was these key learnings that contributed Research Project 3030 provided a taste of how most to the improvement in the bottom line things can improve over time. and supported the key findings of the research.

Cows grazing rye-grass pasture and being fed There is a story behind every feeding system. supplements consisting of home grown silage, Understanding this is the key to unlocking purchased hay and purchased concentrate the potential of your own feeding system. produced 520 kg MS per cow in the first If you are interested in being one of 10 farm year of the research project with significant businesses in the next round of Feeding reliance on purchased feed (1.75 tonne concentrate/cow and a similar amount as hay). Impact, phone Greg O’Brien at DEPI on (03) 5624 2288.

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Results are ULTRA good A new era for sexed semen as ULTRA hits the market.

Sexed semen technology has improved more in the past eight months than it has during the past decade. In 1995, sperm was processed at 200 to 400 cells per second, with an 83 per cent chance of producing a female and a conception rate that was 70 per cent of conventional. By 2012, this had improved to 5000 cells per second, with 85 per cent purity and 80 per cent fertility of conventional semen. By early 2015, sperm can be processed at 18 000 to 20 000 cells per second with 93 per cent purity and a conception rate potentially approaching 97 to 100 per cent of conventional semen — an enormous improvement.

The case for sexed semen — which previously came into question due to inconsistency with results and poorer conception rates — is rapidly strengthening as the technology catches up with demand and we develop a

better understanding of its use.

The first article in this series covered advances in fresh sexed semen, and focused on two large-scale research trials in New Zealand and Ireland.

While no controlled fresh sexed semen trial has been undertaken in Australia yet, anecdotally farmers have been reporting good results. Several groups have been collecting data on farms using the technology and Dr Jon Kelly from the Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic had the following results as of early November 2014.

• From 852 heifers on six farms over nine joinings, using five different sires: an average 55 per cent heifer conception rate (ranging from 44 to 69 per cent).

• From 293 cows on four farms, using two different sires: an average

37 per cent cow conception rate (ranging from 30 to 45 per cent).

The number of animals involved and the absence of a common protocol means that caution should be used when interpreting these results. However the preliminary numbers indicate it is possible to obtain very good results using fresh sexed semen, particularly in heifers. Results are also more consistent — with less of the ‘bull effect’ seen in frozen sexed semen, where some bulls’ semen copes poorly with the sexing process at an unpredictable rate.

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The first change has been to the semen extender (or diluent) used. Extenders are liquids added to the semen in order to protect and nourish the sperm after collection (the exact change is proprietary and has not been specified by the company). The second and third changes were to the sorting process (protecting sperm cell membranes), and reducing the time required to sort the ejaculate. The new generation machines sort a collection in just over an hour, rather than the usual six-plus hours, which should improve the overall viability of the product.

The upgrades were made to the four sorting machines in Western Victoria earlier this year, meaning that any sexed semen produced within the past six months or so has been processed under the SexedULTRA technology, and should have benefited from these changes.

Again, similar to fresh sexed semen, hard data from controlled trials is not available. The best information we have comes from data

collected by groups and individuals. Dr Jon Kelly (Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic) found the following results: • From 77 heifer joinings on two farms, using two sires: an average 57 per cent heifer conception rate (ranging from 48 to 63 per cent).

• From 110 cows on two farms, using two sires: an average 46 per cent cow conception rate (ranging from 25 to 55 per cent).

As usual, for those who are considering the use of this new variety of sexed semen, the following recommendations apply: for heifers, only use if they’re well-grown and cycling at joining; make calving ease a high priority; be on top of your heat detection game; and make sure that best-practice artificial insemination techniques are used. Additionally, for use in mature cows, ensure you pick only the most fertile individuals — any animal that has been calved less than 40 days, been induced, experienced past problems with uterine

infections or calving, or has proven difficult to impregnate in the past, should be excluded from the program.

These field trials indicate that sexed semen may be a viable option for more farms — particularly those that have wanted to use the technology in the past but found the lowered conception rate unacceptable. For farmers who have tried sexed semen before 2014 and found it wanting, now could be a good time to re-visit the technology as both our knowledge of how to use it and the maturity of the technology have improved.

For more information phone Dairy Extension Officer Ee Cheng Ooi at DEDJTR Tatura, on (03) 5833 5916 or email ee.cheng.ooi@depi.vic.gov.au — Ee Cheng Ooi Dairy Extension Officer, DEDJTR Tatura

FEBRUARY 2015

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Transition feeding cows is crucial Transition feeding cows three weeks either side of calving is crucial to a successful lactation.

That was the message from Cows R Us managing director Ian Lean, delivered to a packed room of farmers and dairy industry representatives at an International Dairy Week seminar in January.

Dr Lean said calving was the peak period for cow deaths and disease leading to involuntary culling, and effective feeding at this critical time could significantly decrease losses.

He said Australia was leading the way with research into effective transition feeding which involved getting the balance right to include adequate levels of energy, protein and minerals.

Large Holstein cows required 12–14 kg of feed per day during the transition period

Ian Lean from Cows R Us discusses the importance of transition feeding at International Dairy Week. Photo by Wayne Cousins.

with 120 MJ of energy to maintain optimum health and condition and allow for the requirements of the growing calf.

Dr Lean explained the importance of feeding higher density feeds prior to calving to eliminate disruption to the rumen when cows entered the milking herd and had access to high quality lactating cow fodder.

“It’s vital there is no disruption to the rumen, it leads to all sorts of problems,” Dr Lean said.

Other important benefits of transition feeding were an increase in disease prevention of up to 90 per cent, the production of a live calf, and increased fertility and productivity during the cow’s lactation.

Dr Lean said an adequate feeding regime could reduce the incidence of milk fever, retained placenta, metritis, mastitis,

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ketosis, acidosis, pregnancy toxemia and reproductive failure.

He presented startling figures that proved cows that suffered milk fever at calving were eight times more likely to have mastitis, two to three times more susceptible to retaining their placenta and up to four times more likely to suffer a displaced abomasum.

Healthy cows at calving had a higher conception rate and a 30 per cent greater chance of getting in calf during the mating period, Dr Lean said.

While transition feeding is an additional cost to farmers, Dr Lean said the returns were conservatively estimated at 10:1 with profit markedly increased.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining animal health protocols and ensuring vaccinations and parasite controls were up-to-date. n

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Ensure your farm is an attractive investment Dairy farms are becoming a good proposition for international and local investors.

Secure returns and steady capital growth are driving interest from investors in Australian dairy farms.

Dairy Australia’s farm business capability program manager Neil Lane said all dairy farmers should be investment-ready.

Mr Lane was speaking at an interactive seminar during International Dairy Week in January.

He said it was good business management to understand the drivers of profit and risk on individual farms to ensure all parties had a clear understanding when potential investment opportunities arose.

He said the emerging trend of corporate investment gave farmers an alternative to traditional sources of funding when attracting capital into their businesses.

But there are strict guidelines which should be adhered to.

Firstly, Mr Lane said, owners should provide a

Dairy Australia’s Neil Lane believes all farmers should prepare their businesses for investment. Photo by Wayne Cousins.

comprehensive prospectus.

“If you can’t answer ‘yes’ toboth of those, don’t It should list key features of the business including do it.” all assets and liabilities, three to five years of The final step is to draft a “heads of agreement”, management accounts detailing cow numbers, a written document that clearly defines the roles tonnes of grain fed and fertiliser applications, and and responsibilities of each party. three to five years of budget forecasts.

Mr Lane said the document should detail An analysis of the business sensitivities — feed, what the investor was actually buying, milk price and seasonal conditions — and who paid for what in terms of repairs and the strategies in place to deal with changes to maintenance and capital expenditure, and these, is crucial along with any future capital whether or not the investor would be requirements such as a new dairy or bore passive or actively involved in the day-to-day construction. management of the farm business.

The second step was to conduct effective due He said a time-line of the length of the diligence. Both the owner and investor should investment proposal and a clear exit strategy for offer full disclosure of their past business all parties needed to be determined and recorded. performance and history, current financial Mr Lane said Australia had a competitive position, and have clear expectations of what advantage to attract investors with land relatively any deal might deliver. cheap in relation to the cost of production, a “There are two key questions: ‘Is the business plentiful supply of grain and fodder and a proposition right?’ and ‘Are the people right?”’ temperate climate which allowed cows to graze Mr Lane said. pastures for long periods of the year. n

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FEBRUARY 2015 HERS0176DairyDirectMagazineAd2015_Gippsland.indd 1

15

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FEBRUARY 2015

Reminders for March Pastures/forages Rye-grass leaf appearance rate: 12 to 20 days per leaf (depending on soil moisture and temperature).

Area of farm to graze each day: 1/30 th to 1/60 th of the grazing area.

Average daily pasture growth rate: 6 to 15 kg DM/ha depending on soil moisture and temperature in dryland areas and 30 kgDM/ha to as high as 50 kgDM/ha in irrigated areas in ideal conditions.

Recommended pre-grazing decisions: Balance quantity and quality of pasture depending on the dominant species.

Recommended post-grazing decision: Graze down to 4 to 6 cm pasture height between the clumps. Paddocks should be clean from any high residual ready for the autumn break.

Fertiliser • Create a plan for a fertiliser program using soil tests and experience that considers fertiliser quantities, timing and costs. Split the farm up into management areas and apply recommended rates of fertiliser based on soil test results and your planned fertiliser program.

• March is a great time to apply fertiliser to pasture in preparation for the autumn break.

• Superphosphate and muriate of potash do not require rain to release into a soil, rainfall after an application increases the risk of nutrient loss from the farm.

• It is possible to use dairy effluent as an alternative to traditional fertiliser on areas of the farm. When applying dairy effluent be careful not to have any runoff or to overload soils with nitrogen and potassium.

• For its best use, when using effluent as a fertiliser it is best to have effluent tested for nutrient levels.

Pasture renovation and oversowing • March is an ideal time for the sowing of pastures into well prepared seed beds. Use appropriate seed sowing rates for whatever method you are using (broadcast needs a higher rate than drill) and roll to retain seed bed moisture.

• Paddocks that were pugged last winter and spring and not repaired may have thinned out. These can be oversown with an annual or perennial rye-grass to assist in increasing the productivity of the pasture in the coming year.

• Paddocks that have undesirable species may need to be sprayed out then sown or have a programed approach to reduce weed seed loads in the soil.

• Monitor newly sown pastures or crops for pest or weeds and treat appropriately.

Stock • Warm moist conditions may increase the risk of facial eczema. Information is available on the Dairy Australia website http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au, especially the spore monitoring across Gippsland. If spores rise to 20 000 it is time to implement a preventative strategy.

Talk to your local vet about options.

• Plan your transition diet for autumn calving cows. The aims are to prevent milk fever, ensure the cow’s energy requirements are met, and introduce grain to the diet if a high level of grain is being fed in the milking herd. A properly-formulated lead feed ration or the use of anionic salts in the water troughs should be considered.

Even a low level of milk fever in the herd has many flow-on effects including calf losses during calving, downer cows and cow health issues in early lactation.

Young stock • Monitor the replacement heifers’ growth.

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FEBRUARY 2015

17

It’s not all about show for Ashley Harrison.

This feed pad was recently installed to boost farm productivity in summer and winter.

A breed apart Recognition is unexpected but welcome.

18

FEBRUARY 2015

With wife Jane and young sons Cohen and Raidyn, Mr Harrison has been building his Nerrena farm from a smallish family holding into a 137 ha property, with another 141 ha leased nearby.

While the focus of the operation remains squarely on growing grass and producing milk, the breeding side of the business is a passion for Mr Harrison that he sees as an important part of his long-term plan for the farm.

“I’ve always been into the breeding … it’s a hobby I guess,” he said.

“Basically, if you don’t have a good cow it’s not worth milking.

“

“

Dairy farming isn’t a job that comes with too many pats on the back.

Even when the milk price is high and the grass is growing faster than it can be eaten, farmers need to rely on their own sense of achievement rather than any peer recognition.

That’s why Nerrena’s Ashley Harrison was understandably chuffed when his name was called out at the Semex-Holstein On-Farm competition recently.

Krishlaye Steady Pixie NYC was named best in the two-year-old class during the dinner at Witchmount Estate winery near Sunbury.

Pixie’s dam, Krishlaye Dictator Pindari EX90, also finished fourth in the Mature class.

Pindari is the first of three generations of EX that support Pixie. Pindari’s dam is EX91 Braedale Goldwyn, who is backed by EX90 Townson Lindy.

“I’ve had finalists before, but never been to the dinner,” a clearly pleased Mr Harrison said.

“Highest we’ve placed before is second. I wasn’t going there expecting to win so it was a big shock to the system.”

It wasn’t just the Harrisons who were pleased with their win. Judges in the competition appear to enjoy having something new in the competition gene pool.

“Some winners’ names we hear every year, some names are heard occasionally, and some names many of us have never heard of before,” Semex’s Jim Conroy said.

“That proves some of the real values of our competition. It is as relevant for rewarding families that have worked in Holsteins for the better part of 100 years, right through to people who have been involved for 20 minutes. Anyone can enter, win, and do well.”

I’ve always been into the breeding . . . it’s a hobby I guess.

Ashley Harrison

“My theory is, if a cow is put together right, she won’t have any trouble milking.”

When it comes to identifying what makes a champion cow, Mr Harrison is in no doubt what is required.

“She’s got to have a good muzzle on her, a good chest width, good straight legs and a good rump,” he said.

“The rump is the main part, the calf ’s got to be able to come out.

“My theory is that if you’re going to milk cows you need to milk cows that will pay the bills; she has to be functionally right.

“We use expensive bulls that are high production, high type, which will hopefully give us more milk in the long run.”

With his champion Holstein, Mr Harrison could potentially take the show ring by storm.

But the time, cost and effort of showing doesn’t appeal for a man who cheerfully admits he is “well out of the loop” when it comes to the world of clipping, shampooing and parading cows.

“It’s a long-term goal that we might have a cow that could be taken to dairy week perhaps, but I don’t have any ambition to send them because it will cost me a fortune,” he said.

“The On-Farm challenge is my way of advertising the cow.”

Word of mouth — and the odd magazine article — should be enough to put Krishlaye Holsteins’ genes into herds across the region.

Heifers being sold for top dollar on the export market are now being kept on the farm to boost the bottom end of the herd.

“We normally send a heap to export, but this year we’ve had a lot better calves and I’m thinking they’re too good to sell — even at $2000 I’m thinking they’re too good to go,” Mr Harrison said.

Plenty of bulls, however, are leaving the farm, with Mr Harrison ensuring that only the best animals carry his stud’s name and genes into other herds.

“We’re starting to sell 10 to a dozen bulls a year,” he said.

“I wouldn’t sell a bull that I wouldn’t use myself. So it has to be out of the top-end cows.” n

Jerseys are starting to infiltrate the Harrison herd, with Raidyn and Cohen preferring the smaller breed.

Ashley Harrison with On-Farm competition twoyear-old winner Krishlaye Steady Pixie NYC.

Ashley and Jane Harrison Nerrena 137 ha farm with 141 ha leased 220 cows (90 per cent Holstein, 10 per cent Jersey)

Krishlaye Steady Pixie NYC is in a class of her own.

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FEBRUARY 2015

19

animal health

Rochester Vet Practice

Cows feel stress when the heat is on A heat-stressed herd is a less productive one, so take steps to ensure your cows keep their cool.

20

FEBRUARY 2015

prevent or minimise heat stress aim to address these factors and therefore include providing shade and increasing evaporative cooling through the use of sprinklers and fans.

The provision of shade can have a significant impact by protecting cows from direct sunlight and significantly reducing radiant heat. Shade can be provided by trees or by portable or permanent structures; typically, cows prefer natural shade provided by trees.

If a portable or permanent structure is used for the provision of shade, it is important to ensure the structure is of a sufficient height to ensure that heat is not reflected from the roof back onto the cows. This may be addressed in the case of low structures with a ridge opening.

“

Signs of heat stress will be commonly first seen in high producing cows because of the extra heat these animals generate due to higher milk production.

“

Like us, cows are affected by hot weather and can suffer significantly in the summer months. Core body temperature or heat load is determined by the amount of heat a cow is producing from processes such as metabolism and lactation and the amount of heat that is gained or lost to the external environment.

Due to the presence of a large fermentation vat (80 litres) in the form of the rumen, cows produce a significant amount of internal heat.

Dairy cows are most comfortable when the ambient temperature sits between 5º C and 25º C. This is known as their thermal neutral zone. At temperatures outside of this zone cows must actively regulate their body temperature by either decreasing or increasing internal heat production and the amount of heat lost or gained from the environment.

Unfortunately summer temperatures are commonly well in excess of 2º C and significant effects on production can result.

These can include a decrease in dry matter intake and a resulting decrease in milk yield, milk fat and protein. Somatic cell counts and bacterial counts commonly also increase during hot, humid weather. In addition to adverse effects on production, reproductive performance can be adversely affected as well as general cow health, with an increased risk of acidosis, laminitis and mastitis. For these reasons monitoring your herd for signs of heat stress and taking early action is critical.

Early signs of mild heat stress include an increase in breathing rate (greater than 60 breaths per minute) and rectal temperature, decreased activity, a reduction in food intake, an increase in water intake and shade-seeking behaviour. Signs of more severe heat stress include increased levels of agitation and restlessness, crowding around water troughs and/or wet areas, open-mouth breathing and excessive salivation. In extreme cases cows can become ataxic, collapse and experience convulsions, with coma and death being the final result. Signs of heat stress will be commonly first seen in high producing cows because of the extra heat these animals generate due to higher milk production.

Heat is primarily gained from the environment through direct radiation from the sun, elevations in ambient temperature, high humidity and a lack of air movement. Consequently strategies to

Most heat is lost through evaporation from sweating and breathing. To increase heat lost through these mechanisms cows should be wet effectively with a sprinkler system.

Sprinklers can be run on a cycle i.e. two minutes on and 10 minutes off, to ensure cows are wet effectively but not completely soaked, thereby avoiding water run off onto the udder. This also increases cooling efficiency by allowing evaporation to occur when sprinklers are off. This most commonly will take place in the holding yard prior to milking. To increase cooling via this method fans may also be used to increase air flow.

When sprinklers are used cows must not be packed into the yard or other designated area to such an extent that air movement is reduced; if this occurs, evaporative cooling

will not occur. Instead an area of high humidity will be created and consequently heat stress will increase.

Cows should have access to cool drinking water throughout the day. This is particularly important in hot weather when water intake can reach 200–250 litres per animal. Ideally large volume troughs in which water remains cool will be located in areas which are easily accessible and that do not require animals to travel a great distance. The flow rate and water pressure should be sufficient to deal with periods of high demand.

Changing milking times so that they occur earlier in the morning and/or later in the afternoon in order to avoid the heat of the day is another strategy that maybe employed.

This ensures that cows are not moving in the hottest part of the day. Alternatively, cows may be returned to the milking yard for the hottest part of the day, if a sprinkler system is set up in the milking yard. Cows are then stood under the sprinklers until late in the afternoon when milking is undertaken, and returned to pasture as the day ends and temperatures begin to drop.

The distance the herd must travel between the paddock and dairy should also be minimised in hot weather. This is particularly applicable to afternoon milking if it cannot be shifted to later in the day.

For severely heat stressed animals specific treatments may include cold hosing, drenching with cold fluids and/or the provision of IV fluids for severe dehydration.

For further information regarding heat stress visit the website provided by Dairy Australia: “Cool Cows: Dealing with Heat Stress in Australian Dairy Herds” at http://www. coolcows.com.au/hot-season-strategies/ hot-season.htm — Sarah Stewart For Rochester Veterinary Practice

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FEBRUARY 2015

21

The Knee family with the dairy in the background and Corner Inlet top right.

Keen to maintain lifestyle Young farmers look for ease of operation rather than expansion of business.

22

FEBRUARY 2015

Focus Farms is a project funded by GippsDairy and Dairy Australia using dairy levy funds and provides an experienced farm consultant as a facilitator as well as a support group made up of fellow farmers and local service providers.

Having only gone out on their own since last July, Daniel and Cindy believe that now is a great time for the Focus Farm program to put their business under the microscope.

“

“

Toora dairy farmers Daniel and Cindy Knee reckon they have it pretty good … and they don’t want to risk what they have.

The young couple farms on a wellestablished property that they have taken over from Daniel’s parents (Bruce and Rae) and have a growing family that they are dedicated to spending time with.

Rather than trying to expand their operation, the Knees, who have a young daughter, Tully, and a baby on the way, are looking to improve on what they already have and maintain the lifestyle that is so important to them both.

“It’s always been drummed into me through Mum and Dad that you’ve got to have a lifestyle,” Daniel said.

“I get it all the time from my mates that I’m a lifestyle farmer, but they don’t have a life.

“You can’t be here 24 hours a day, otherwise you just go stale.”

Daniel and Cindy are far from lifestyle farmers. On the contrary, they are such an impressive young dairying couple that they have been chosen among the latest round of Focus Farms in the Gippsland area.

You can’t be here 24 hours a day, otherwise you just go stale.

Daniel Knee

“As far as the Focus Farm goes, it was probably the right time to do it in our first couple of seasons,” Daniel said.

“It’s great having that little bit of extra support there, with people giving us ideas.

“We’ve picked a group with (Focus Farm

facilitator) Matt Hall pretty well.

“It’s a good group of older farmers with a lot of experience and some farmers that are in the same situation as us, so everyone’s got an opinion, but there’s no-one who’s been saying that we have to do it like they say.”

Cindy, who comes from a non-farming background in Kerang, has taken over the farm financials and has found the high turnover of a dairy farm to be quite a challenge.

“Because it’s all internet banking it can seem like play money. It just comes in and it goes out,” she said.

“The Focus Farm has been good for me and helped me learn a lot more about it.”

While Daniel and Cindy only took over the farm in their own right at the start of this financial year, Daniel has been working on the property since he was first able to tag along behind his dad. Having worked in an official capacity since he was 18, Daniel eventually joined in a partnership with his parents before finally taking over the management of the farm from Bruce.

Now living in Foster, Bruce and Rae have no financial stake in the business, but Bruce is

The Knee herd looks for the next paddock to graze on.

Daniel and Cindy Knee Toora 150 milking hectares 420 Holsteins Split calving (mostly spring)

Daniel Knee in his Toora dairy.

still involved in day-to-day farm work.

“It’s meant that he’s been able to take a step back, but hasn’t had to step right out of it,” Daniel said.

“He still offers his opinions, and I do appreciate that.”

Bruce and the support group’s experience has been helpful in coping with a recent bout of mastitis that has taken a while to control.

One of the goals of the Focus Farm involvement is to improve mastitis and cell count issues, while fine-tuning calving and feeding are other areas where Daniel and

Cindy see gains can be made. Other than that, they see developing their skills and knowledge as the key to improving their farm business.

“It’s just trying to get those one-percenters better, like trying to get our timing right on feed,” Daniel said.

“There’s no point sitting still, you have to try and keep improving.

“That was one of the reasons I really wanted to try the Focus Farm.”

While Daniel and Cindy are working hard to improve their farm business, they are also

looking beyond the next milk cheque to make sure they can secure a dividend based on family and lifestyle.

“Matt Hall always says that he doesn’t care if I’m a lifestyle farmer as long as I’m still here and passionate in 25 or 30 years, which I totally agree with,” Daniel said.

For Cindy, the dairy farm has its challenges, but the rewards seem to outweigh them.

“I love it,” she said.

“It has its good points and bad points. He’s not home for dinner, but we have him here for breakfast and lunch each day.” n

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FEBRUARY 2015

23

2015 short term ryegrass EBV Guide For a proven performer, choose a Seed Force variety not a brand.

Annual ryegrass Forage EBVs based on replicated trials 2006-2014

Culitivar

Ploidy

Variety or brand

Mean Winter yield

Spring yield

Total yield

Flowering Days from Tetila NSW

WA

ME MJ/kg DM

CP %

NDF %

Extra meat value $/ha

Extra milk value $/ha

No. of trials

LATE FLOWERING (>+8 days) SF Adrenalin

tetraploid

variety

109

126

116

+9

+16

11.08

23.95

45.88

+$404

+$1020

34

SF Speedyl

tetraploid

variety

109

131

118

+12

+18

11.08

26.31

46.27

+$421

+$998

35

SF Pinnacle

tetraploid

variety

110

142

122

+10

+18

10.87

26.78

48.05

+$349

+$812

11

SF Sultan

diploid

variety

107

132

117

+10

+11

10.94

25.17

47.91

+$328

+$746

41

Zoom

tetraploid

variety

95

126

107

+14

10.84

23.57

46.64

+$208

+$575

8

Winter Star II

tetraploid

variety

103

124

112

+8

10.74

23.14

48.47

+$186

+$483

41

+7

10.68

23.10

48.45

+$212

+$464

Arnie

diploid

variety

108

119

114

Jivet

tetraploid

variety

96

120

106

+16

7 4

MID FLOWERING (+5 days to +8 days) SF Catalyst

tetraploid

variety

103

107

107

+5

+7

10.66

21.47

45.24

+$221

+$580

12

SF CatapulT

tetraploid

variety

106

113

110

+6

+7

10.70

22.79

46.91

+$215

+$525

29

10.83

23.82

48.13

+$201

+$506

Tama

tetraploid

variety

104

117

110

+7

Abundant

tetraploid

variety

108

109

108

+6

+11

4 12

Mach 1

tetraploid

variety

99

122

108

7

Aristocrat 2

tetraploid

variety

104

103

106

4

T Rex

tetraploid

brand

103

110

105

Burst

tetraploid

variety

102

84

98

+8

12 2

Progrow

diploid

variety

93

102

94

2

114

112

114

EARLY FLOWERING (-2 days to +4 days) Winter Hawk

diploid

variety

10.86

SF Flyer

diploid

variety

108

109

108

+1

SF Sprinter

tetraploid

variety

109

112

111

+4 0

OreTet

tetraploid

brand

104

104

104

Sungrazer T

tetraploid

brand

103

105

103

Maximus

tetraploid

variety

102

107

105

Atomic

tetraploid

brand

105

101

102

0 0

0

23.16

47.45

+$299

+$681

10.84

23.57

46.64

+$225

+$586

38

10.66

23.66

48.32

+$171

+$417

40

10.73

22.32

47.85

+$164

+$390

2

10.64

25.17

49.46

+$38

+$134

17

10.45

22.86

49.70

+$12

+$53

20

+2

Surrey 2

diploid

variety

102

105

103

Grassmax

diploid

brand

104

109

102

-1

+9

Tetila

tetraploid

brand

100

100

100

0

0

3

5 8 6 10.40

22.40

49.23

$0

$0

35

Rocket

tetraploid

brand

101

106

99

4

Tetrone

tetraploid

brand

107

102

97

3

R2

tetraploid

brand

118

97

96

Double Crop (Dargo)

tetraploid

variety

104

95

92

0

0

2 2

Relative rankings have been undertaken by comparing all yields as a percentage of Tetila.

Feed quality data undertaken prior to all grazings from trials at Gundagai and Lismore (NSW) with hundedised means reported.

Variety or brand?

The Australian Seed Federation has spent considerable effort over the past few years helping producers better understand the origins of varieties or brands that they are considering planting.

Products in blue font are for brands which have not met the ASF criteria - source ASF Seeds database January 2015.

To be confirmed as a variety on the ASF site, companies must have either Plant Breeders Rights or seed certification under OECD or ASA schemes.

A brand is largely a name that may or may not be trademarked. The seed may be fit for purpose but there is no scheme to let buyers know much about it.

It may or may not be the same product at any time.

24

FEBRUARY 2015

Italian ryegrass Forage EBVs based on replicated trials 2006-2014

Cultivar

Ploidy

Variety Winter Spring Summer or yield yield yield brand

Total yield

Flowering Days from Tetila

ME MJ/kg DM

CP %

NDF %

Extra meat value $/ha

Extra milk value $/ha

no. of trials

11.35

21.87

43.45

+$163

+$446

41

11.39

22.82

43.70

+$158

+$424

24

11.32

24.67

45.34

+$132

+$362

7

+18

11.33

22.50

44.00

+$101

+$308

38

11.20

22.51

44.44

+$67

+$224

37

+21

11.07

21.65

45.39

+$90

+$215

42

NSW

WA +21

LATE MATURITY (>+11days) SF Indulgence

diploid

variety

98

106

103

102

+14

Momentum

diploid

Asset AR37

diploid

variety

96

104

107

101

+14

variety

106

107

102

106

SF Emmerson

tetraploid variety

97

104

98

100

Feast II

tetraploid

variety

101

103

104

102

+12

SF Accelerate

diploid

variety

104

107

113

105

+12

Tonuss

diploid

variety

99

104

109

101

+15

11.22

23.85

45.77

+$50

+$130

24

Maverick GII

diploid

variety

95

103

106

100

+14

11.14

22.05

44.95

+$35

+$114

27

Nourish

tetraploid

variety

95

99

105

97

+14

11.23

20.55

44.23

+$7

+$110

24

10.91

20.11

46.91

+$47

+$75

4

11.26

20.65

44.12

-$15

+$52

15

Concord 2

diploid

variety

113

108

88

110

Jeanne

tetraploid

variety

90

97

81

94

+13

+14

Hulk

diploid

variety

99

98

100

99

+12

Crusader

diploid

variety

100

100

100

100

+12

Icon

diploid

variety

82

105

93

97

+11

Warrior

diploid

variety

92

101

98

98

+12

Aston

tetraploid

variety

99

93

Knight

diploid

variety

106

104

Emmerson/ Indulgence

4n/2n

blend

103

112

Thumpa

tetraploid

variety

99

111

Turbo

diploid

variety

97

94

Awesome

diploid

brand

99

Denver

tetraploid brand

88 101

100

96 98

+18

105 107

+18

11.09

21.49

45.15

+$11

+$44

36

11.10

22.29

46.08

$0

$0

42

11.02

21.31

45.44

-$12

-$15

2

11.08

21.39

45.58

-$20

-$31

6

11.22

22.74

45.14

+$1

-$32

7

10.83

20.94

47.64

-$52

-$152

7

+13

5

103

2

95

3

88

93

2

81

84

2

104

MID MATURITY (< +11 days) Sonik

diploid

variety

90

100

+10

11.03

23.45

45.98

-$21

-$42

20

Diplex

diploid

brand

107

98

85

101

+7

10.85

24.65

46.50

-$22

-$99

11

Charger

diploid

brand

106

96

70

97

+7

10.78

21.00

47.28

-$188

-$449

8

RRA/SDF15353

Relative rankings have been undertaken by comparing all yields as a percentage of Crusader.

Feed quality data undertaken prior to all grazings from trials at Shepparton (VIC), Gundagai and Lismore (NSW) with hundedised means reported.

Notes for Annual and Italian ryegrass: Yield data is hundredised means from a minimum of 2 and up to 42 trials per variety/brand.

Feed quality analysis undertaken by NSW DPI Feed Quality Service at Wagga Wagga.

Meat and milk values estimated using Seed Force’s. Animal Performance Calculator™ based on the following assumptions: • Meat at 65% feed utilisation, based on 300kg steer with 44MJ for maintenance and 45MJ/kg lwg at $1.70/kg • Milk at 75% feed utilisation, based on 600kg cow with 100MJ for maintenance/exercise/pregnancy and 5.5MJ/litre at $0.45 per litre No summer data means that those varieties have only been trialed by Seed Force in areas that finish in early December in annual growing regions.

Where cells have no data it means that tests have not been undertaken on those varieties or brands.

Extra meat and milk values are estimated differences per ha compared to control cultivars with numbers in red being negative to control.

the power to grow www.seedforce.com

104 - 106 Drummond Rd, Shepparton, VIC 3630 T: 03 5832 3800 F: 03 5821 8999 FEBRUARY 2015

25

Make more money out of cows Learn to manipulate fat and protein ratios to optimise returns.

It is possible to make more money out of cows by manipulating the fat and protein composition they are genetically capable of.

To optimise the return per cow, dairy farmers need to understand the factors affecting milk fat and protein ratios.

Speaking at International Dairy Week, Ridley national ruminant technical manager Tim Harrington said these factors were divided into nutritional and non-nutritional/feeding categories.

Dairy farmers have significant control over nutritional and feeding factors such as source of milk components, rumen function, feeding management, body condition score, forage level and form, supplementary feed intake, cow energy levels, protein intake and added fat and oil.

Non-nutritional factors such as the stage of lactation, cow age, season, mastitis infection, mechanics in the dairy (cooling problems in bulk tank, poor mixing in bulk tank, excessive agitation in the pipeline and sampling problems) and genetics and inheritance, were often difficult to manage but still possible to influence.

Mr Harrington said when cows produced the

intake decreased, or fibre level increased, milk most milk during lactation, they produced the lowest fat and protein percentages. protein was reduced by 0.1 to 0.4 per cent and milk fat was increased.

“So you can adjust the cow’s diet to maximise the solid percentages,” he said.

In the end, he said, it was all about creating balance by maintaining cows with a “It’s about manipulating the cow to produce more solids when you get into later lactation.” correct body score of 5.5 (out of 8) so high producing cows could draw on reserves to Mr Harrington said dairy farmers could have support milk production. major influences on nutritional factors but Mr Harrington said fat cows produced more the challenge was that high energy, low-fibre milk but had metabolic problems and calving rations – while increasing milk protein – problems. could reduce milk fat.

“We don’t want full fed cows; we want them “It’s about taking the feed and putting the full of nutrients. right stuff with it.”

He said forage rations should ideally be 40 to “Look at what the diet change is but do look at your payment structure. Look at those sums 45 per cent forage and that low forage created every month and see how you can capitalise low-fibre diets that produced low milk fat. on the milk price.”

Low-fibre forage (young grass) was a high energy food source that produced higher milk Milk fat depression can be corrected in seven to 21 days and be changed by 0.1 to 1.0 per protein, but ran the risk of cows developing cent, and milk protein changes take 21 to 42 acidosis and laminitis. Added fat and oil days to show and can be changed by 0.1 to were good energy sources, but not the best 0.4 per cent. for rumen bacteria. It can be used but in controlled amounts.

Mr Harrington said dairy farmers should Mr Harrington said as energy intake or ration consult a nutritionist if they were having energy density increased, milk fat was reduced issues manipulating their fat and protein ratios. n and milk protein was increased. As energy

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• Very well set up 528 acre dairy farm situated on Mywee Koonoomoo Road, Strathmerton.

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• Very good 25-aside swingover dairy with cup removers, ADF, inbale feeding and 7600 ltr vat.

• 95% lasered and 100% recycled with very good irrigation set up.

• GMW delivery share in place along with a 776 meg Katunga Deep Lead Bore run on three-phase power.

• S&D bore supplying quality water to the homes, dairy and farm troughs.

• This farm has milked 500 cows with production up to 200,000 kgs/ms and has been a consistent performer for many seasons.

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• 1250 acre dairy farm situated in the Perricoota within 15 minutes from Moama.

• 50 bale rotary dairy complete with auto cup removers, adf, auto draft and cow ID, multi-head feed dispenser, two feedpads, two vats and 650 cow yard. Great on farm grain storage.

• Good quality silt loam soils, 400 ha lasered. Sown to 100 ha permanent pastures, 100 ha Lucerne, 200 ha annuals and 100 in dry land crops.

• 450 megs of water pumped direct from the Murray River. 200 megs turkey nest 100% recyclable.

• Two x three-bedroom family homes in good condition and set amongst treed surrounds. Excellent shedding and stock handling facilities.

• Milking 630 cows and producing in excess of 5 million litres. This farm earns serious cash and lifestyle that could be yours.

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• Very good 15 a side dairy with in bail feeding, 200 cow yard, well located and in very good condition.

• Four-bedroom family home with renovated kitchen and bathroom. Nice outdoor BBQ area with some lovely mature trees.

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Don’t let them go hungry.

Grow more pasture and run more cows.

EverGol Xtend seed treatment provides the foundation your pasture needs to achieve maximum production by controlling rhizoctonia and fusarium. So you’ll be able to accommodate more cows and produce more milk because they’ll have something tasty to snack on.

Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd, 391-393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123 ABN 87 000 226 022 Technical Enquiries 1800 804 479 EverGol® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group.

SeedGrowth™ is a trademark of the Bayer Group.

FEBRUARY 2015

27

Which crop is best suited to your farm system?

Which of these crops are suitable?

Gippsland farmers reap benefits of Forage Planning program Learn the four Rs and look at forage in a new light.

Several dairy farmers in the Foster area of South Gippsland, having just completed the Forage Planning for Dairy Farms program, are now looking at forage planning in a new light.

These farmers, along with input from respected seed company agronomists, have learned what is really required to increase the frequency of successful sowing of pasture and fodder crops on their farms. Invisibly ‘imprinted’ on their foreheads now are the four Rs of forage planning. That is, these guys will now endeavour to sow the right crop at the right time for the right reasons but take into account risk.

No more looking over the neighbour’s fence or relying on glossy brochures when making decisions on what to sow, when and especially why. They are now more discerning in the species and varieties chosen to better match their soil type, climate and their specific farming system.

They now look at the bigger picture when trying to fill feed gaps; is it cheaper to buy in fodder (or concentrates) than grow their own? They now also have a better handle on all the costs of establishing and maintaining productive pastures and crops.

Many participants now have a more structured forage plan in place than they had in the past and are planning further ahead when sowing new pastures or follows up crops. They now recognise the benefits and expertise of reputable seed company agronomists and the more experienced rural store operators, willing to put more trust in their recommendations. These same service providers also learnt heaps from the farmers and their advice will be more tailored to the individual farmer’s system.

If you want to reduce the amount of purchased feeds, decrease feed gaps, increase crop and pasture consumption, reduce crop and pasture establishment failures, increase quality of forage cut for silage and hay, this

program is for you.

A new Forage Planning for Dairy Farms program, co-funded by Dairy Australia and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) formerly the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), will start in Gippsland in February.

It involves three days inside, a week apart, and then about five to six on-farm days to cover timely management activities such as pre- and post-sowing activities, first grazing, fertilisers, fodder conservation and summer cropping.

The first day is planned for Wednesday,.

February 18 in the Leongatha/Korumburra area. For further information or to enrol, phone Frank Mickan on 5624 2259 or 0427 317 471 or email frank.mickan@depi.vic.gov.au — Frank Mickan, pasture and fodder conservation specialist, DEDJTR, Ellinbank Centre

Irrigation and Energy Expo ATTENTION EXHIBITORS

Showcase your business to a targeted audience May 20 & 21, 2015 — Shepparton Showgrounds MAJOR SPONSORS:

SPONSORS:

Country News Reaching Australia’s richest agricultural region

28

FEBRUARY 2015

to Bo se ok cu re earl yo y ur sit e!

Showcasing industry innovation The expo provides the perfect opportunity to promote your products and services to a targeted audience.

To book your exhibition space please complete the prospectus documents available from our website www.wtcexpo.com.au Contacts Sponsorship Wendy Buck Chair WTC Irrigation Expo wendy@wtcexpo.com.au Phone: 0438 052 630

Exhibiting Andrew Chittick Expo Treasurer andrew.chittick@totaleden.com.au Phone: 0400 671 172

Or visit our website www.wtcexpo.com.au

Story: Cathy Walker Pictures: Julie Mercer

Vet floats water treatment past farmers Tank keeps downer cows on their feet for faster recovery.

Standing in water stops cows from struggling, provides a feeling of security, and assists in the recovery process from compromised blood flow during calving, or nerve damage from falls in the dairy.

They are among the reasons why Warragulbased veterinarian John Steinfort researched and invented a flotation tank for dairy farmers with downer cows.

At a seminar during International Dairy Week, Dr Steinfort said while the water technique had been used internationally for 15 years, his Riser Tank system, developed with the help and feedback of his farmer clients, was an Australian first because cows were lifted in and out with a specially developed frame that supported the cow’s pelvis and back end.

“When an injured cow is down (on the ground) struggling to get up she will injure herself more,” Dr Steinfort said.

“When they stop trying to get up, that’s when the healing starts.”

He outlined the diagnostic procedures such

as using a pin prick on the cow’s coronet to test for feeling, or a hammer tap on the leg to check John Steinfort’s seminar on downer cow management was reflexes, to help dairy farmers in well received at International Dairy Week. their decision-making process and management choices.

“But it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t get milked But even before that, he said it was vital to for a couple of days.” bring the downer cow in and “do something” A downer cow can have femoral nerve as quickly as possible. dysfunction — damaged muscular neural Dr Steinfort had an interested audience at connections from struggling to get up. the Tatura seminar with farmers from all over Keeping the cows confined and still is vital, Australia taking the opportunity to drop in and Dr Steinfort said, because trying to get up set learn something while they were exhibiting them back even further. cattle or attending as spectators. They asked “When you get them standing up in the tank questions such as what the risk of mastitis was they will eat and drink, which also helps with from standing in water, or could the cows be a faster recovery.” milked as they were supported in the tank.

A gas heater is set at 40°C and the water The three tank choices are economy, standard temperature is 35°C which he described as and stud. The stud model has a half gate that perfect. allows the water level to be lowered and the “The Riser tank equals security; it allows them cow to be milked in the tank while a cover to stand in water for six hours, lower the water can be zipped over the top of all the units to and see if they can stand,” Dr Steinfort said. keep the cow warmer in winter.

“When a cow stands for one hour, she walks “I’ve even seen someone milk the cow under out.” n water,” Dr Steinfort said.

THREE

BAGS

FULL

OF AUTUMN

OPPORTUNITIES

Annual Ryegrass

Italian Ryegrass

“Winter Star® II has got rapid growth, especially after grazing in winter.”

“We’ve grown an extra 30%40% more feed on our farm since changing to Feast® II.”

Tim Cashin Leongatha, Victoria

Tim Kooloos Leongatha, Victoria

Perennial Ryegrass

“It’s persistent, it works for us and the cows love it.”

Mark Billing Larpent, Victoria

AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL RETAILER For more information call Darrel Rowe on 0427 150 278 or visit pggwrightsonseeds.com.au/autumn

LET’S GROW TOGETHER FEBRUARY 2015

29

The most common reason for sowing a crop is to fill a genuine feed gap, or form part of the pasture renovation process.

The four Rs of forage planning A forage plan must encompass four areas in order to be of maximum benefit.

The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) Forage Planning for Dairy Farms program follows the four Rs of forage planning to help farmers develop a robust forage plan — choosing the right crop, sown at the right time, for the right reasons, while taking risk into account.

Right crop The right crop or pasture is one that is best suited to achieve production goals on your farm.

To ensure the selection of the right crops for your farm, consider the following: • When does your herd have feed gaps?

• Which crop or pasture types will perform best under your growing conditions?

• What are the feed requirements for your herd?

• What other feeds, including purchased fodder, are available to you?

• How are you going to feed it?

• What is your experience in managing the selected crop?

Right time Timing of sowing and crop management preand post-germination are crucial for good crop growth and development. Sowing too early or too late in the season can substantially affect crop success.

30

FEBRUARY 2015

If soil temperatures and soil moisture are not suitable, germination rates and crop establishment will be significantly affected.

Strategic use of fertilisers and water, along with managing pests and weeds, will assist in maximising yields and returns. Remember, the crop will only perform as well as its most limiting factor allows.

Right reasons What is the purpose of the crop? Generally, the most common reason for sowing a crop is to fill a genuine feed gap, or form part of the pasture renovation process.

Consider the total cost of the crop when comparing this against the cost of purchased feed of a similar quality. Could you buy feed of similar quality cheaper than the cost of producing it?

Matching the supply of grazeable forage to the herd’s feed demands during a genuine feed gap has the potential to reduce conservation costs and maximise financial returns.

Risk Within any farming system there are many risks, some outside your control, but some you may be able to influence or minimise.

The impact of the risks you can influence can be

minimised through management decisions.

There are a number of types of risk, including: • Financial e.g. milk price, feed price, water price, cash flow; • Seasonal e.g. late autumn break, short spring, wet winter, dry summer; • Personal e.g. attitude to risk, stress, experience, labour availability; • Crop failure e.g. poor establishment, pests/diseases/weeds.

Considering the four Rs and assessing your feeding strategy will help you develop a more robust forage plan, increasing the success and maximising the profitability of your crop.

If you want to learn more about forage planning, the Forage Planning for Dairy Farms program is a good place to start, and will be running late January/early February in the Lockington area.

To express your interest for the Forage Planning for Dairy Farms program which began in January phone Brendan Ley, DED Tatura, on (03) 5833 5244.

— Sarah Brown Dairy Project Officer, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (formerly Department of Environment and Primary Industries).

Facing facial eczema THE next few months have the potential of increased risk of facial eczema outbreaks in Gippsland.

To help farmers manage the risk of facial eczema in their herds, Dairy Australia and GippsDairy will again support a pasture spore monitoring service across a series of sentinel farms in Gippsland.

(Go to www.dairyaustralia. com.au/facialeczema for more details).

Remember that early intervention is critical. When local pasture spore counts trend upward of 20,000 spores/gram and weather conditions look favourable for sporulation, each farm should monitor its own pasture spore counts week to week and implement facial eczema control and prevention strategies.

Spores have already been recorded at low levels in pasture samples in December.

To ensure maximum reliability of pasture spore counts, a consistent approach to collecting pasture samples is required. The correct method is provided in Appendix A of the Dairy Australia document ‘A Review of Facial Eczema (Pithomycotoxicosis)’ (updated 2013). Spore counts on samples collected may be done at a number of veterinary clinics across Gippsland.

Daily feeding of zinc supplements to dairy herds during high risk periods has been shown to protect them from the fungal toxin responsible for facial eczema.

However the stringent regulatory conditions for the control of veterinary medicines in Australia require that treatments used

in food producing animals are assessed and approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

Zinc oxide is an unregistered chemical which has led to difficulties in obtaining approved stockfeed medicated with zinc oxide. It is important to use high quality zinc supplements to avoid accidental exposure of cattle to heavy metal contaminants.

Dairy Australia submitted an application to the APVMA for an Emergency Permit for use of pharmaceutical grade Umicore Zinc oxide as an aid in the prevention of facial eczema in dairy cattle.

The application for the Emergency Permit was supported by the Victorian Chief Veterinary Officer at DEPI. The APVMA has issued an Emergency Permit to Dairy Australia for this purpose in Victoria, to remain in force from 24 Dec. 2014 until 30 Nov. 2015.

(Permit no. PER80579).

Persons who can use the product specified under this APVMA permit are stockfeed manufacturers, dairy farmers and veterinary surgeons acting on advice from the permit holder, Dairy Australia.

Any queries regarding this APVMA Emergency Permit should be directed to Dr Robin Condron, Manager Animal Health and Welfare, Dairy Australia. Email: RCondron@dairyaustralia.com.au

Automated technologies bus tour THE future of irrigation technology will be on display during an upcoming bus tour of the Macalister Irrigation District.

“The chance to talk to farmers who are already using state-ofthe-art automated systems is an opportunity not to be missed.”

The February 18 tour, which is organised by Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources with the support of Dairy Australia, will visit five farms in the MID where a range of automated technologies will be demonstrated.

Discussion points of the free tour will include: • Costs of the system • Lessons learnt • What they would change • How it has changed their management

Dairy Australia extension co-ordinator Tony Platt urged farmers to jump on board the bus.

The tour, which will leave from the DEDJTR (formerly DEPI) carpark at 1 Stratford St, Maffra, will run from 10 am to 2.30 pm and will include lunch.

“Automation of irrigation systems is changing the way the industry uses RSVP’s are essential to Gavan Lamb water and changing the way farmers 5147 0848 or gavan.lamb@ecodev. operate their businesses,” he said. vic.gov.au

GippsDairy seminars DON’T forget the three great seminars that GippsDairy is presenting in coming months.

Stepping In and Stepping Back will deal with strategies for older farmers reducing their work commitment and younger farmers making the next step in their career development.

The first one-day session will be held at Inverloch on April 22, while Maffra will host the second seminar on April 23.

over five weeks. At an upcoming date to be announced. Keep an eye out for details.

The third seminar is the highly successful Churn Milk Into Money two-day session which is aimed at younger farmers or recent industry entrants who are looking to develop strategies to improve their business performance.

It will be held in Traralgon on 15 and InCharge: Financial Literacy is aimed 16 April.

For inquires and bookings for any at women who carry the burden of book-keeping for the farm business. of these seminars, please call the It will be run over five days spread GippsDairy officer on 5624 3900.

For more information please call GippsDairy on (03) 5624 3900 or visit www.gippsdairy.com.au

FEBRUARY 2015

31

All in the family Siblings work well together to ensure best for the farm they treat as their own.

Family is an important concept for Dean With wife Bek and their three children, and Kellie Turner.

35-yer-old Mr Turner has built a successful career in dairy after growing up in Lang The siblings work together on a Yannathan dairy farm; Mr Turner as a 34 per cent share Lang and starting his working life as a bobcat operator. farmer and Miss Turner as herd manager.

A busted knee from football and a downturn But the family connection doesn’t end with in work saw him seek greener pastures as a the siblings – or even with bloodlines.

The Turners consider farm owners Noel and dairy employee – a move that resulted in his first connection with the Campbell family.

Ann Campbell to be part of their extended “I started working for Noel’s brother Donald, family, with a relationship that is built on but six weeks after I started he was killed in mutual trust and respect. a car accident,” Mr Turner said.

With Mr Campbell often absent with his duties as Australian Dairy Farmers president, “After he died we were thrown in the deep end a bit, and I had to learn how to be a day-to-day management as well as much of the longer-term planning falls to Mr Turner. farm operator. It was a big experience for me at the time as I was only 19.”

“Basically I operate this place as if it was Don Campbell, who was a passionate my own farm and Noel and Anne are like family,” Mr Turner said. supporter of young dairy farmers, would no doubt be delighted to see the Turner siblings “They’ve given us an opportunity to move thriving in the industry he loved. forward, and at every opportunity, whether it’s been tough times or not, they’ve For 26-year-old Miss Turner, the dairy farm supported us. has always been a source of enjoyment as well as employment.

“In 16 years I’ve never had a blue, and that just goes to show you the respect we have As a secondary school student, she couldn’t for each other.” wait to get out of class, and even spent her spare time helping big brother Dean with Miss Turner, who first worked for the his milking duties.

Campbells 12 years ago, said both families had rewarded the trust they have placed in When it was time to make a decision on her each other. future, Miss Turner combined VCAL study with on-farm experience at the Campbell “Noel knows that Dean’s looking after the family’s farm. farm, and I’m looking after the cows like they’re my own,” she said.

A few years ago she left to try her hand at a “If there’s any problems with the cows I don’t few other farming jobs, but was soon back ask Noel, I just do what needs to be done.” among her cows.

32

FEBRUARY 2015

“I went away from working on dairy farms for two years selling feed, AI and calf dehorning, but just didn’t like all the political stuff involved in it,” she said.

“Then the opportunity came up to come back and manage for Dean.”

The siblings enjoy their working relationship, with Mr Turner having the luxury of a farm employee that he can trust to always do the right thing by the farm business.

“We have great respect for each other,” Mr Turner said.

“We have our disagreements at times, but as Kellie said before, we treat everything as our own.

“When it comes to quality in the shed she respects that a cell count or mastitis can be diabolical for our business, and she wants the best for our cows and she treats them as if they’re her own.”

Having a reliable herd manager is all the more important for Mr Turner, who runs two dairy sheds on the 180 ha farm.

Situated 800 m apart, the dairies both operate for six months of the year, with two separate herds being run from August to February.

The system has its drawbacks during calving periods, but for most of the time it means cows can be milked faster than on most farms.

“We can have one operator in each dairy which means we can milk 480 cows in the

Dean and Kellie Turner. “She treats them as if they’re her own.”

Dean Turner (share farmer) and Kellie Turner (herd manager) 180 hectare farm at Yannathan Milking 460-480 mixed cows 220 cows (90 per cent Holstein, 10 per cent Jersey)

two dairies in less than two hours,” Mr Turner said.

The family team is likely to be broken up at some stage; Miss Turner will need to move elsewhere to further develop her farming career.

For Mr Turner, leasing a property and having his sister manage it would allow him to keep the family connection while maintaining his sharefarming arrangement with the Campbells.

“At the end of the day I’ve got it really good here with everything that any sharefarmer could ever dream of,” he said.

“The long-term future for me here is good, and I don’t see myself moving in any hurry.” n

TOTAL WATER SOLUTIONS. Rob Rye Irrigation provides: Poly and Steel Fabrication Pipe and Riser Systems Pivots and Laterals Sub-surface drip

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See us at the Gippsland Irrigation Expo on March 18th, Site A4 and A5.

FEBRUARY 2015

33

Can alternative species complement rye-grass pastures?

Chicory.

New cultivars may suit your farm environment.

Variable seasons and/or milking cows on the drier dairy land have led to some innovative dairy farmers trying out alternative pasture and crop species. Rye-grass is a reliable, highly nutritious feed for much of its growing season but has feed gaps in summer, autumn and winter and more so in the lower rainfall areas There is continued plant selection and breeding by the seed companies striving to improve rye-grass cultivars. However, they are also searching for new or improving existing alternative species to better complement rye-grass, replacing it where soil and climatic conditions better suit them. Despite these alternative species also having their own drawbacks, several farmers in Victoria have sown some of their milking area to a range of alternative pastures and crops species.

They have been sown to help fill ryegrass feed gaps. They have been sown on regularly flooded flats and into lighter soil types where rye-grass requires frequent resowing. Some farmers have also selected a specific species, chicory, to help combat the effects of severe red head cockchafers but having found other benefits, have continued to use it.

34

FEBRUARY 2015

Make no mistake; sowing alternative species will require changes in management to that of rye-grass and several years of trialling and learning by experience may be required to before getting the best out of them.

Chicory is a summer active perennial herb, develops a deep tap root, and is highly nutritious through most growth stages. It can tolerate lower pH, higher aluminium, higher soil salinity but not as tolerant to waterlogging as rye-grass but more so than lucerne. Once established it is much less vulnerable to insect pests.

Chicory’s main weakness is that damage to its hollow stem or crown during grazing and when followed by wet conditions, can render it prone to fungal diseases.. Chicory should be grazed laxly during late autumn and winter to allow root reserves to be replenished but its deep (>50 cm) root system allows it to produce well over the drier summer months, unless extremely dry.

Tall fescue can produce more than ryegrass over summer due to its deeper root system, persist longer and has similar nutritive value. It can grow in less-fertile soils, is adapted to a wider range of pH and more tolerant of waterlogging and saline conditions than rye-grass.

Having these characteristics, some farmers have replaced some or even all their ryegrass with tall fescue in irrigated areas where temperatures reach well above the desirable level for rye-grass. It has been successfully grown on some flats in the higher rainfall areas of Gippsland where regularly waterlogging occurs, requiring annual replacement of rye-grass. It will not perform well if moisture stressed.

It is very slow to establish and if soil temperature is under about 10ºC, will take twice as long to geminate as ryegrass but will only be a few days behind if sown in soils above 12 to 14ºC. Later sowing will also allow weeds to outcompete the slow growing fescue resulting in extra expenditure for weed control and sometimes, even re-sowing.

Tall fescue does have other drawbacks but being aware of its specific grazing strategies can alleviate these concerns. Tall fescue is best grazed at the four-leaf stage and requires tighter grazing in spring (about 15-day rotation), leaving about a 4 cm residual as it approaches maturity. Breeding and selection of new cultivars is leading to tall fescue varieties becoming available with leaves nearly as soft as rye-grass.

Tall fescue has higher nitrate-N concentrations in its leaf and stem than perennial rye-grass so may lead to a greater risk of nitrate-N poisoning of animals if high rates of N fertiliser are used.

Prairie Grass is an annual to short-term perennial. It likes well drained, fertile soils and will not tolerate waterlogging, soils with low pH level nor those high in aluminium. It has a similar growth pattern to perennial rye-grass, but is more heat-tolerant so will grow further into summer. It can provide good quality feed in late summer, autumn and late winter to early spring.

Cattle will consume prairie grass at all stages of growth including the seed heads which are quite palatable and will recover from hard grazing. It should also be grazed at about the four-leaf stage.

There are various new cultivars within all the above species and there are other alternative species available which may be suited to your farming environment so further investigation could be warranted. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Frank Mickan, pasture and fodder conservation specialist DEDJTR, Ellinbank Centre

Prairie grass going to head.

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Hands-on experience offered Youth camp aims to foster interest in dairy industry.

Students at the training camp (from left): Damien Goodman, Traralgon; Ashlee Bloxidge, Nar Nar Goon; Courtney Pulham, Fish Creek; and Jonte Berryman, Leongatha.

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FEBRUARY 2015

A group of 38 young people from Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia participated in the annual National All Breeds Dairy Youth Camp run by the National Centre for Dairy Education.

Although largely based at the Melbourne Showgrounds, the five-day training event spent a day on a farm to give participants some practical experience judging cattle, and this year Michael Tuhanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tatura dairy farm hosted the field trip.

During the camp participants develop confidence in handling dairy heifers; learn judging, showing and clipping skills; and discuss breeding and new technology.

Eachparticipant is supplied with a heifer and throughout the week they learn how to care for the animal in the lead-up to competition day, including daily feeding, watering, washing and grooming, clipping and monitoring.

Assistant co-ordinator Sue Bird said the youth camp was aimed at post-secondary participants and was open to people between 16 and 20 years old.

“Some are doing traineeships on-farm,” Ms Bird said.

The program uses National Centre for Dairy Education staff and 12 volunteer leaders who have industry experience, including time in the show ring.

Scholarship winners from previous camps also participate as leaders.

The location for on-farm field trips is rotated around the major dairy areas and this year it was northern Victoria’s turn.

Host Michael Tuhan provided three rings of cattle for simulated judging and, because he is a qualified nutritionist, spoke about the needs of dairy cattle through their different life stages.

Reid’s Stockfeeds sponsored the barbecue.

The philosophy behind the camp is to encourage young people from all backgrounds to foster their interest in dairy cows and the dairy industry. n

Damien Goodman, 18, from Traralgon has his sights set on a career in farming, although he has come from a non-farming background.

Damien was one of the participants in a recent national dairy camp for young people during the summer holidays.

Having completed Year 12 last year, he’s hoping to be accepted into an agricultural course at the Dookie campus of University of Melbourne.

“I want to do something in agriculture but I haven’t decided exactly what yet,” he said.

Damien works on a dairy farm at Rosedale operated by Dale and Robyn Scott.

“There seems to be more freedom on a farm than working in town,” Damien said.

“Sitting inside would be boring.”

Damien hopes the experiences offered by the training camp will give him more skills and education and put him in contact with more people in the industry.

He believes his interest came from his younger days when he would spend his school holidays at his grandfather’s farm.

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Daryl and Fay Sinclair believe in learning from other farmers.

Milk of human kindness Involvement away from the farm is just as important as life on it for this dairying couple.

Seven days a week, Fay Sinclair rises at 5.30 am to milk her 280-strong dairy herd.

Come midnight, the farmer is just as likely to be baking a birthday cake for those without a family or finishing the paperwork for one of the many committees to which she dedicates her spare time and energy.

For most of us, it would be exhausting. For Fay, it’s what life in a farming community is all about.

“You have to enjoy what you’re doing,” she said.

“I enjoy milking cows. I wouldn’t get out of bed at 5.30 every morning if I didn’t.”

With husband Daryl, Fay runs a Stony Creek dairy farm that has grown from a

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FEBRUARY 2015

rudimentary property to an efficient farm that is a model of modern dairying.

Healthy cows, rich pastures and modernised infrastructure are the keys to making the South Gippsland farm a productive and profitable dairy business.

Their milk is high quality and their young cows are in demand from international dairy producers looking to boost herds from China to Mexico.

Closer to home, Daryl and Fay’s remarkable revegetation efforts saw them win the 2003 National Landcare Award. Since then, the total number of trees planted on the farm has topped 40 000.

“We like shade, and shelter in the winter,

and so do the cows. If the cows are comfortable, they actually give you better production,” Daryl said.

It’s this commitment to the bigger picture of their local environment that makes the couple such a special part of the South Gippsland community.

Daryl, who prefers to stay in the background, has been president of the local umpires’ association, helps maintain the immaculate playing surface at the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve, has held various football management positions and has been secretary of the cricket club for many years.

For Fay … well where do you start? For 30 years she has been secretary of the Meeniyan Recreation Reserve, has been involved with

Fay Sinclair

“Small towns are great places but someone has to do the work. If we can keep the facilities up to scratch, then it’s going to survive.”

Now in their early 50s, the couple is adamant that involvement in off-farm activities is vital for their wellbeing.

Whether it’s helping at the local footy club or participating in a farm discussion group, getting away from the constant demands of the farm is crucial for Daryl and Fay. “It’s important for any farmer not to be

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at home all the time. Any person in any industry needs to go outside their own field, to give them an interest,” said Daryl, who had just returned from his sixth Great Victorian Bike Ride.

Speaking to other farmers also helps remind the pair what they love about dairy farming and the passion that drives so many in the industry.

“You need to go and see other farms,” Fay said.

“Even for us, it’s still exciting seeing other farms where they are doing things slightly differently.

“It might only be the way they clip a gate, but you think, ‘well, I can apply that on our farm’,” she said.

With each gate clipped, each cake baked, each meeting attended and each lap of the footy oval on the mower, Daryl and Fay Sinclair are making their farm and their community a better place to live.

For more Legendairy stories, head to legendairy.com.au n

Before we started with SurePulse our teat health was not good. We now have excellent teat health. After using Sure Pulse for five years we have even teats in the herd.

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the Meeniyan Dumbalk United Football Club for almost a decade, is secretary of the Meeniyan basketball stadium, secretary of the Leongatha branch of the Cake Decorating Association, teaches baking to local primary school children and helps out each week at three-year-old kinder in Meeniyan.

She has also been a netball player, coach, umpire, administrator, office bearer or canteen helper for 30 years.

Apart from all that, Daryl and Fay were inaugural participants in Dairy Australia’s Focus Farm program; they regularly participate in on-farm discussion groups and have mentored young dairy farmers.

In their spare time they also managed to raise four boys.

In 2011, Fay was honoured with the South Gippsland Citizen of the Year award for her community work.

“I was very excited. It was a bit daunting to start with,” she said.

“I do the work because I want the community to go forward and be in good shape for the next 50 years, for our kids.

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Irrigation

know-how on tap at sale Farmers impressed by Shepparton expo bring similar event to their own region.

The expo will give opportunities for farmers to inspect the latest water technology.

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FEBRUARY 2015

Some of the expo organisers are (from left) Dairy Australia’s Tony Platt; farmer Brad Missen; Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources’ Maria Rose; Welllington Shire’s Mark Coleman; and farmer Iain Stewart.

Gippsland farmers will see the latest in irrigation technology, techniques and tips at the first Gippsland Irrigation Expo at Sale on Wednesday, March 18.

The free event at the Sale showgrounds will see a pavilion full of exhibits as well as working demonstrations.

Organisers are expecting hundreds of attendees at the event, which has been modelled on a similar expo held annually in northern Victoria.

A group of Macalister region farmers who attended the Shepparton event wanted to bring the same technologies down to show other Gippsland farmers.

They formed a working group chaired by Iain Stewart, who lives near Stratford and is also on the GippsDairy board and is chair of the Macalister Customer Consultative Committee.

“Last year’s event at Shepparton was an eye-opener for us – it will be the same again here in Sale,” Mr Stewart said.

“The developments in water technology are astonishing. Any farmer chasing the best production from their land simply can’t afford to miss this day.”

The event will feature pressurised and surface irrigation systems.

Exhibitors include companies such as Padman Stops, Archards, Rubicon Water and AWMA Water Control.

As well as displays of irrigation technology there will be some serious hardware offering better water-use efficiency. Alternative power companies offering farm-scale systems are included in the mix, as are pump specialists such as Grundfos.

“If you want to boost production, or reduce water or power use, or if you simply want to have a good look at what’s out there – it’s a great opportunity and it’s here in Gippsland for the first time,” Mr Stewart said.

Among the attendees already registered for the event are representatives of Gippsland Water and East Gippsland Water.

Additionally, a group of about 30 croppers and pasture specialists attending a GRDC research update next door to the event will be visiting.

The Macalister region is the largest irrigation region in Victoria’s south.

The region is 90 per cent dairy, and Southern Rural Water estimates the district is worth $500 million to the economy annually.

It has seen ongoing infrastructure upgrades through the MID 2030 plan.

The day is being organised by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources and Dairy Australia, along with Southern Rural Water and the Shire of Wellington.

• The event at Sale showgrounds will run from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Registrations close March 7 at https://www.eventbrite. com.au/e/gippsland-depida-irrigationexpo-tickets-14904668264 n

See us at the Gippsland Irrigation Expo March 18th 2015 at site B7

What is watermatch? watermatch is a new free service from Southern Rural Water to help you find someone to trade water with.

It is an online trading forum, and can also be used by people who are not on the internet, with help from our staff.

For more information visit www.srw.com.au or phone us on 1300 139 510.

Talk to one of our staff at the Gippsland Irrigation Expo to find out more information or to register your interest in either buying or selling water.

FEBRUARY 2015

41

calendar of events 2015 Forage Planning for Dairy Farms

When, what, how and why of producing more home-grown forage (pastures and crops) to fill feed gaps South or West Gippsland depending on demand February 18 and 25; March 4 and 18. 10 am to 2.30 pm. Mix of theory and multiple farm walks Phone Frank Mickan on 5624 2259, DEPI Shade and Shelter for Livestock Production

Using shelterbelts and tree planting to maximise livestock production in heat and cold extremes Loch, Ellinbank and Rosedale Loch February 16, Ellinbank February 17, Rosedale March 3. 9.45 am to 2.30 pm Phone Sam Shannon on 5613 5978 sams@wgcma.vic.gov.au, WGCMA Macalister Focus Farm Open Day

Open to the district to hear about the goals, business and progress early on in the Focus Farm

Macalister Demonstration Farm, Boggy Creek Rd February 26. 11 am to 2.30 pm Phone Tony Platt on 0477 440 339. GippsDairy, 5624 3900, GippsDairy/Dairy Australia Irrigation Technology Expo

Hosting irrigation technology companies for a farmer expo in Sale Sale Show Grounds March 18. 8.30 am to 4 pm

Please contact GippsDairy for updates.

Phone: (03) 5624 3900. Email: executiveassistant@gippsdairy.com.au

Phone Gavan Lamb/Sarah Killury on 5147 0800.

Tony Platt on 0477 440 339. DEPI/Dairy Australia Fert$mart Poowong

Program looking at nutrient balance, nutrient management, and developing a nutrient plan for your farm (limited places)

Poowong area February 5 and 9 (plus one-on-one farm visits) Phone Gillian Hayman on 0428 345 493, Dairy Australia/GippsDairy Fert$mart Meeniyan

Program looking at nutrient balance, nutrient management, and developing a nutrient plan for your farm (limited places)

Meeniyan area February 27 and March 27 (plus 1 on 1 farm visits) Phone Gillian Hayman on 0428 345 493, Dairy Australia/GippsDairy

Stepping In/Stepping Back Look at options for farmers looking to step back form the day-to-day farming tasks. Also how to prepare someone in the business to ‘step in’ to take up responsibility.

Inverloch April 1. Time TBC Phone GippsDairy on 5624 3900, GippsDairy/Dairy Australia Stepping In/Stepping Back

Look at options farmers looking to step back form the day to day farming tasks. Also how

to prepare someone in the business to ‘step in’ to take up responsibility.

Maffra April 2. Time TBC Phone GippsDairy on 5624 3900, GippsDairy/Dairy Australia

Churn Milk into Money Develop people so they can have careers in dairy, accumulate wealth and have lifestyles they want

Traralgon April 15 and 16. Time TBC Phone GippsDairy on 5624 3900, GippsDairy/Dairy Australia

2015 Feeding Pastures for Profit Principles of grazing management and supplementary feeding for profitability

South or West Gippsland depending on demand April 9 and 16. 10 am to 2.30 pm mix of theory and multiple farm walks Phone Frank Mickan on 5624 2259, DEPI

InCharge Fertility Workshop Five-day workshop (over two months) covering all aspects of reproductive performance

Maffra and Leongatha Maffra starts April 9. Leongatha starts April 10 Phone Ashleigh Michael on 0428 307 250, ash. michael@depi.vic.gov.au DEPI

FARM DEVELOPMENT MADE EASY Over the past 33 years Gippsland Farm Consulting Services have established a range of services for farmers to achieve the best on farm irrigation practice.

Services include: • Whole Farm Planning • Surface Irrigation Design • Reuse Dam Design • Spray Irrigation design • SRW Rationalisation Design • Automated Irrigation Design • On-farm Development Consultation

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Earth works design options: n Opti-Surface: Three dimensional GPS controlled surface drainage design n Geocomp: Multi-plane two dimensional GPS controlled surface irrigation design n Laser Grading: Two dimensional laser controlled surface irrigation design

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